Miami Commissioner seeks to move 'Burn Notice'

MIAMI — The cable spy series “Burn Notice” might blow up its own studio space, if one Miami official gets his way.

The series — currently in its sixth season — films at the defunct, city-owned Coconut Grove Convention Center, but a master plan calls for the building to be demolished and replaced with a waterfront park. Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whose district includes the convention center, has been pushing to relocate the show’s production and move forward with the park for years. In recent commission meetings, he’s suggested not renewing the show’s lease when it expires in October, regardless of whether it’s approved for a seventh season.

The issue has split the community. Some want to see the park developed as soon as possible, while others enjoy the spotlight “Burn Notice” shines on the Coconut Grove area and the money it pumps into the local economy. The USA network, which airs “Burn Notice,” has not officially ordered a seventh season, so the debate could be academic.

William Plasencia, a spokesman for Sarnoff, said Friday that the commissioner has a new proposal that he shared with producers this week: Instead of its normal $240,000 annual rent payment for a seventh season, the show would cover the demolition and debris removal costs for the convention center, possibly working the building’s destruction into the show’s eventual finale. The city of Miami already has $1.8 million budgeted for the park’s development, and shifting the demolition costs — estimated to be around $500,000 — to the show would mean more money for the park.

“It was well-received, and we’re just waiting for them to respond,” Plasencia said about the proposal. “They may come back with different demands or concessions.”

Any deal would have to be approved by both the full city commission and the company that produces “Burn Notice,” Fox Television Studios.

Bob Lemchen, the studio’s senior vice president of production, said Friday in a prepared statement that they’re reviewing the offer, but negotiations are ongoing.

“While we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached with the city of Miami to keep ‘Burn Notice’ in production in its current Coconut Grove location, no such agreement has been reached at this time,” Lemchen said.

The studio executive said they’re not prepared to accept the current offer, indicating they are also looking at plans to move the production.

“Negotiations will continue, but the studio concurrently is exploring alternative production locations, including within Florida, as well as outside the state,” Lemchen said.

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lease any # of vacant properties in our area as michael's hangar/office/home,, the local population would be ideal as set extras, & our scenery is perfect for backdrops... they could work in the truck crashing the gates, overturning on the bridge of lions, the driver stripping down to his b'day suit & running into the castillo de san marcos,, with some editing of course !!!! our chamber of commerce & city hall, should pitch our city to the producers !!!>>>yathink